Loose-leaf binder



Feb. 15,1927. 1,617,958

J. M LEAN LOOSE L-E'AF BINDER I Filed May 18. 1925 s Sheets-Shet 2 l wm v 3mm Jam mzm Ffib- MacLEAN LOOSE LEAF BINDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 18. 192s- Patented Feb. 15,- 1927.

UNITED. STATES JOHN MACLEAN, or ruEBLo, coLonADo.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Application filed May 18, 1925.

This invention relates to loose-leaf binders, and particularly to a binder intended and adapted to hold checks, printed matter, sample materials in sheet form, or other leaves which will be considerably thumbed in use, and which must lie comparatively fiat when the book containing the same is opened.

An object of my invention is to provide a binder which will take a quantity of leaves or sheets and will hold the same conveniently and compactly in place, the binder being of such construction that one or several leaves can be thrown over or turned back to give complete access to any particular sheet or leaf.

A further object resides in so constructing and mounting the parts that no obstruction is placed upon the binder rings or posts to tear the leaves, and that the leaves will be protected and supported when the binder is being opened. I I

Yet another object is to provide a binder of the ring type in which the leaf or sheet opened position. I i

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the disclosure receiving portions of the rings are continuous, and in so mounting the rings or posts that they are movable to permit one or several leaves or sheets to be turned back to lie perfectly flat thus giving complete access to any matter upon the leaves or sheets and presenting the leaves in the best position for writing or working upon the same.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be set forth in. connection with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a binder constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the top cover opened out.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing some of the leaves or sheets thrown. back to the in Fig. 1. 1

. Fig. 1 isa transverse sectional view on theline me-m of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view showing the book closed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view with the entire Serial No. 31,054.

body of leaves about to be thrown over to the open position.

i Fig. 7 is a similar sectional View with a portion of the leaves opened as shown. in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view to better show the binder bar and rings;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the throw-over board.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspectiveview of a modified form of leaf retaining clip.

The binder cover consists of the two side members 1 and 2 connected together and spaced by a back hinge strip 3, and it will be appreciated that these covers can be made of any suitable material and can be bound to meet the particular requirements of use. It is perhaps preferable that the cover memher 1 be relatively stiff as the binder structure is supported and carried thereby,but this member 1 and the remaining portions of the cover might be a flexible material where the conditions of use require.

A binder bar 1-, preferably of cylindrical metal, has its ends bent and formed to provide open rings 5 and 6', said open rings lying in parallel planes at right angles to the axis of the body portion 7 of bar 1 and being so formed that the rings are disposed sub stantially concentrically around the body portion 7 as a center. The free ends of the rings are notched or grooved at 8 and 9, and it may be found advantageous to shape these ends to be of substantially ball form beyond the notches 8 and 9. Bearing members 10 and 11 are riveted or secured in any other suitable manner upon the inner side of cover member 1 adjacent and spaced from the back portion 3, and these bearing members are provided 'with upstanding aligned hinge bearing portions 12 and 13. The bearing portions 12 and 13 are adapted to revolubly mount the bar 4 and are spaced apart to embrace the body 7 thereof adjacent the rings 5 and 6. The hinge bearings are elevated sufficiently that the rings will nearly clear the cover member 1.

As it is desirable that the turning center of the rings 5 and 6 be; kept as close to cover member 1 as possible, I have found it advantageous to notch the inner face of the cover as indicated at 1 1, to provide clearance for the rings 5 and 6, and a more compact cover is secured by providing similar notches or recesses in the inner face or cover member 2 to receive the upper sides of the binder rings 5 and 6 when the cover is closed.

It is desirable that a throwover board 16 be provided to be fitted on top of the body of leaves or sheets held by the rings 5 and 6, and I have provided a spring clip 17 secured in conjunction with the throw-over board to engage with the notched ends of the rings and retain the throw-over board in place, consequently insuring that leaves or sheets will be retained upon the binder rings. This spring clip 17 has keyhole shaped openings 18 and 19 formed near the ends thereof and so spaced that when the body or the clip shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

is flexed the ends of the binder rings 5 and 6 can pass through the enlargements or these openings 18 and 19 and when the clip springs back the reduced ends of the keyhole openings will catch within the notches or grooves 8 and 9 of the rings to retain the clip in place.

I have shown the sheets 20 as leaves or a checkbook perforated at 21 to be torn off to leave stubs 22 upon the binder rings 5 and 6, and in this adaptation the throwover board 16 will be made of a length to accommodate the length of the stubs 22. Tins throw-board covers the stubs to protect the same from wear and from the sight of unauthorized persons when the book is opened to give access to the body of the leaves which constitute the checks, and when the user desires to make entries upon the stubs or wishes to read or thumb over any of the stubs, these can be readily lifted with the throw-board and can be turned back to lie flat upon the cover portion 2, as particularly In throwing back the board 16 and any leaves, the bar 1 is revolved within its mounting in the hinge bearings 12 and 13, and the binder rings turn therewith With a wheel-like motion.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated a modified form or clip 23 adapted to be fitted upon the notched ends of the binder rings 5 and 6 to retain leaves thereon, and in this construction a substantially U-shaped bar is made of sufiicient length to extend across from the end of the rings 5 to embrace the end of ring 6, this U-shaped bar being preferably closed at its end as at 24 to hold against endwise withdrawal from the notched ends of the rings and being slightly contracted at 25 at its edges adjacent the ends so that it will spring or snap over the ball ends of the rings to engage within the'notches 8 and 9.

While I have herein shown and described only certainiparticular and specific embodiments and uses of my invention, it will be appreciated that changes and variations can be made in the form, construction and arrangement ot the parts to suit different conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A loose-leaf binder of the ring type comprising a cover recessed on its inner sides substantially at the point to be occupied by the rings, bearing members carried by one side or the cover adjacent the recesses thereof, and a binder bar revolubly mounted in said bearings and having its ends bent to substantially ring form with the bar sub stantially centered within the ring and the rings received in the recess.

2. A loose-leaf hinder or the ring type comprising a cover recessed on its inner sides substantially at the point to be occupied by the rings, bearing members carried by one side of the cover adjacent the recesses thereof, and a binder bar revolubly mounted in said bearings and having its ends bent to substantially ring form with the bar substantially centered within the ring and the rings received in the recess, and means to be fitted upon the ends of the bar to retain leaves upon the rings.

3. A loose-lcat binder comprising a cover, bearing members carried on the inner side of a part of said cover, a binder bar revolubly mounted in the bearings and bent at its ends to form open rings concentrically around the extremities of the middle portion, and means fitted upon the free ends of the rings to retain leaves thereon.

A. A loose-leaf binder comprising a cover, bearing members carried on the inner side of a part of said cover, a binder bar revolubly mounted in the bearings and bent at its ends to form open rings concentrically around the extremities of the middle portion, means fitted upon the free enos of the rings to retain leaves thereon, said rings be ing notched adjacent the open ends thereof, and a spring clip engaging in said notches to retain leaves upon the rings.

5. A loose-leaf binder comprising a revo lubly mounted bar having its ends bent to form open rings concentrically around the extremities of the middle portion of the bar, and a throw-over board carried at the free ends of the rings.

6. A loose-leaf binder comprising a bar having its ends bent to term open rings concentrically around the extremities of the middle portion or the bar, a cover, bearing members mounted on said cover and having the middle portion of the bar revolubly received in the bearing openings thereof to permit turning movement of the rings, and a throw-over board carried by said rings to turn and swing therewith;

7. A loose-leaf binder comprising a bar having its ends bent to form open rings concentrically around the extremities of the middle portion of the bar and having notches a spring clip carried by said throw-over adjacent the free ends of the rings, a cover, board to engage Within the notches of the 1 bearing members carried by said cover and rings to mount the throw-over board to turn having the middle portion of the bar revand swing With said rings.

6 olubly received in the bearing openings In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my thereof, said cover being recessed to receive signature. portions of the rings and allow the covers to close compactly, a throw-over board, and JOHN MACLEAN. 

